Laredo ISD coach named 'Special Olympics Coach of the Year'

Published 1:03 pm, Thursday, September 7, 2017

LISD Adaptive PE Coach Olga “Gogi” Gutierrez works with her Special Education students at J.C. Martin Elementary School.

LISD Adaptive PE Coach Olga “Gogi” Gutierrez works with her Special Education students at J.C. Martin Elementary School.

Photo: Courtesy

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LISD Adaptive PE Coach Olga “Gogi” Gutierrez works with her Special Education students at J.C. Martin Elementary School.

LISD Adaptive PE Coach Olga “Gogi” Gutierrez works with her Special Education students at J.C. Martin Elementary School.

Photo: Courtesy

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Click through the following gallery to see the best and worst elementary schools in Laredo for 2017, according to Children at Risk.

Click through the following gallery to see the best and worst elementary schools in Laredo for 2017, according to Children at Risk.

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48. Dovalina
Elementary School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3902

48. Dovalina Elementary School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3902

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 5 of 52

47. Kawas Elementary
School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3895

47. Kawas Elementary School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3895

Photo: Danny Zaragoza/Laredo Morning Times

Image 6 of 52

46. Daiches
Elementary School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3807

46. Daiches Elementary School: F

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3807

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 7 of 52

45. Amparo Gutierrez
Elementary School: D-

United ISD

State rank: 3607

45. Amparo Gutierrez Elementary School: D-

United ISD

State rank: 3607

Photo: /

Image 8 of 52

44. Santa Maria
Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3574

44. Santa Maria Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3574

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 9 of 52

43. H.B. Zachry
Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3559

43. H.B. Zachry Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3559

Photo: Courtesy Photo /LISD

Image 10 of 52

42. D.D. Hachar
Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3541

42. D.D. Hachar Elementary School: D-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3541

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 11 of 52

41. Macdonell
Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3483

41. Macdonell Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3483

Photo: Cuate Santos / Laredo Morning Times

Image 12 of 52

40. Judith Zaffirini
Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3363

40. Judith Zaffirini Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3363

Photo: Courtesy Photo/UISD

Image 13 of 52

39. Franklin D.
Roosevelt Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3358

39. Franklin D. Roosevelt Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3358

Photo: Kent Sievers

Image 14 of 52

38. Sanchez/Ochoa
Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3348

38. Sanchez/Ochoa Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3348

Photo: Courtesy / Google

Image 15 of 52

37. Prada Elementary
School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3254

37. Prada Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3254

Image 16 of 52

36. Ruiz Elementary
School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3253

36. Ruiz Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3253

Image 17 of 52

35. Clark Elementary
School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3239

35. Clark Elementary School: D

United ISD

State rank: 3239

Photo: UISD

Image 18 of 52

34. Ryan Elementary
School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3218

34. Ryan Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3218

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33. Bruni Elementary
School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3208

33. Bruni Elementary School: D

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3208

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 20 of 52

32. Garcia Elementary
School: D+

United ISD

State rank: 3175

32. Garcia Elementary School: D+

United ISD

State rank: 3175

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 21 of 52

31. Don Jose Gallego
Elementary School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3048

31. Don Jose Gallego Elementary School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 3048

Photo: Courtesy

Image 22 of 52

30. Perez Elementary
School: D+

United ISD

State rank: 3031

30. Perez Elementary School: D+

United ISD

State rank: 3031

Photo: César G. Rodriguez /Laredo Morning Times

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29. Farias Elementary
School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2994

29. Farias Elementary School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2994

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 24 of 52

28. Ligarde
Elementary School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2955

28. Ligarde Elementary School: D+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2955

Image 25 of 52

27. Leyendecker
Elementary School: C-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2711

27. Leyendecker Elementary School: C-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2711

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 26 of 52

26. Killam Elementary
School: C-

United ISD

State rank: 2667

26. Killam Elementary School: C-

United ISD

State rank: 2667

Image 27 of 52

25. Oilton Elementary
School: C-

Webb CISD

State rank: 2606

25. Oilton Elementary School: C-

Webb CISD

State rank: 2606

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 28 of 52

24. Henry Cuellar
Elementary School: C

United ISD

State rank: 2442

24. Henry Cuellar Elementary School: C

United ISD

State rank: 2442

Image 29 of 52

23. Arndt Elementary
School: C

United ISD

State rank: 2333

23. Arndt Elementary School: C

United ISD

State rank: 2333

Image 30 of 52

22. Pierce Elementary School: C

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2312

22. Pierce Elementary School: C

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2312

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 31 of 52

21. Malakoff
Elementary School: C+

United ISD

State rank: 2250

21. Malakoff Elementary School: C+

United ISD

State rank: 2250

Photo: Courtesy Photo/UISD

Image 32 of 52

20. J.C. Martin Jr.
Elementary School: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2246

20. J.C. Martin Jr. Elementary School: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2246

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 33 of 52

19. Milton Elementary
School: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2134

19. Milton Elementary School: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2134

Photo: Cuate Santos, Laredo Morning Times

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18. Santo Nino
Elementary: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2036

18. Santo Nino Elementary: C+

Laredo ISD

State rank: 2036

Image 35 of 52

17. Salinas
Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1983

17. Salinas Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1983

Image 36 of 52

16. Nye Elementary
School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1897

16. Nye Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1897

Image 37 of 52

15. Kennedy Zapata
Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1862

15. Kennedy Zapata Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1862

Photo: Courtesy

Image 38 of 52

14. Veterans Memorial
Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1780

14. Veterans Memorial Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1780

Photo: Courtesy

Image 39 of 52

13. Tarver Elementary
School: B-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 1764

13. Tarver Elementary School: B-

Laredo ISD

State rank: 1764

Image 40 of 52

12. Juarez/Lincoln
Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1739

12. Juarez/Lincoln Elementary School: B-

United ISD

State rank: 1739

Photo: Courtesy

Image 41 of 52

11. Charles Borchers
Elementary School: B

United ISD

State rank: 1707

11. Charles Borchers Elementary School:B

United ISD

State rank: 1707

Image 42 of 52

10. Heights
Elementary School: B

Laredo ISD

State rank: 1496

10. Heights Elementary School: B

Laredo ISD

State rank: 1496

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 43 of 52

9. Kazen Elementary
School: B+

United ISD

State rank: 1250

9. Kazen Elementary School: B+

United ISD

State rank: 1250

Photo: Courtesy Photo/United ISD

Image 44 of 52

8. Newman Elementary
School: B+

United ISD

State rank: 1153

8. Newman Elementary School: B+

United ISD

State rank: 1153

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 45 of 52

7. Barbara Fasken
Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1092

7. Barbara Fasken Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1092

Photo: UISD

Image 46 of 52

6. Rodolfo C. Centeno
Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1071

6. Rodolfo C. Centeno Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1071

Image 47 of 52

5. Julia Bird Jones
Muller Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1039

5. Julia Bird Jones Muller Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 1039

Photo: Cuate Santos / Laredo Morning Times

Image 48 of 52

4. Finley Elementary
School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 928

4. Finley Elementary School: A-

United ISD

State rank: 928

Image 49 of 52

3. Matias de Llano
Elementary School: A

United ISD

State rank: 414

3. Matias de Llano Elementary School: A

United ISD

State rank: 414

Photo: Google Maps/Street View

Image 50 of 52

2. Col Santos
Benavides Elementary School: A+

United ISD

State rank: 342

2. Col Santos Benavides Elementary School: A+

United ISD

State rank: 342

Photo: Danny Zaragoza /Laredo Morning Times

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1. Trautmann
Elementary School: A+

United ISD

State rank: 191

1. Trautmann Elementary School: A+

United ISD

State rank: 191

Photo: Courtesy /United ISD

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Laredo ISD coach named 'Special Olympics Coach of the Year'

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Laredo Independent School District's adaptive physical education coach Olga "Gogi" Gutierrez has been named the 2017 Special Olympics Texas Coach of the Year.

This award recognizes the coach who best demonstrates a positive influence on his or her athletes, while helping them to succeed in competition as well as in life.

Gutierrez will be officially honored and recognized Oct. 13 in Bryan/College Station in conjunction with their annual Fall Classic, the nonprofit organization's statewide competition. She was selected statewide Coach of the Year based on being a SOTX certified coach, currently registered as a SOTX Class A volunteer, works to expand her knowledge of the sport, been involved with SOTX for at least five years, and serves as a positive role model for athletes and families.

Over the past 25 years, Gutierrez has been an adaptive physical education coach with LISD, South Texas head coach, and South Texas head of delegation for Special Olympics Texas Area 21. She currently serves as adaptive PE coach at Farias, Santa Maria, Leyendecker, Dovalina, and J.C. Martin elementary schools and Christen Middle School.

On any given day of the week, Gutierrez can be found working in adapted PE class settings with LISD special education students.

"We modify our PE class to the ability of the student. We want to give them the least restrictive environment," Gutierrez said. "We cover everything including hand and eye coordination where it can be integrated into any sport."

"I've had the privilege of working with Coach Gogi throughout the years," said Maribel Santoyo-Maciel, Area 21 Special Olympics area director. "She has worked very hard for Special Olympics by being a coach, HOD, volunteer, committee member, ASMT member, competition director and trainer.

"Gogi goes above and beyond not only in her profession but also in her volunteer work for Special Olympics Texas Area 21. As a head of delegation, she has extended her duties to prepare her students/athletes to respect, be competitive, and over all good-hearted individuals."

According to Gutierrez, ever since she started her teaching career she fell in love with physical education and the children.

"Watching the kids, seeing then succeed, seeing their reaction on their faces and learn. I wouldn't do anything else," Gutierrez said. "The kids are the best. They definitely make me want to come to work everyday. They are full of love."

In 1999, Gutierrez was instrumental in implementing the Motor Activity Training Program for the Special Olympics Texas Area 21. The area had many wheelchair bound students who could not move themselves or release a ball to participate in the track and field events. In order to participate in Special Olympics, you need to run, walk with a walker, wheel yourself, or release a ball.

"These kids were unable and did not qualify so I implemented the (training program)," Gutierrez said. "It is for children that are able to participate and it was wonderful to see their smiles and their parents and they got rewarded with a medal."

Last year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo Executive Director Hector Noyola contacted her about putting together a team of autistic LISD students in grades one to five to compete in a basketball game.

"It was the first time we put a game like this together," Gutierrez said. "It was awesome! The parents, everyone loved and enjoyed it."

Gutierrez has been previously honored and recognized with the 2010 Outstanding Volunteer for Sports & Competition Award, 2004 Special Person Award for MATP (Motor Activity Training Program), 2003 Female Coach of the Year Area 21 and 2001 Female Coach of the Year Area 21. She is also active in basketball, bowling, fishing derby, softball, swimming, track and field and the Young Athletes Program at the elementary, middle and high school level.

In the last 20 years, LISD has had only one other person honored and recognized by Special Olympics Texas. Former Martin High School student Stefanie Rico was nominated by Gutierrez and was selected as the 2014 Female Athlete of the Year 15 years and older.

Special Olympics Texas serves more than 58,300 athletes and is supported by more than 4,000 volunteers. Each year, hundreds of nomination ballots are turned into headquarter office in Austin from all over the state, which include 19 regional offices, to be considered for the annual Special Olympics Chapter Awards.